Dodgers Blue Heaven: Blog Kiosk: 2/12/2018 - Dodgers Links

Monday, February 12, 2018

Blog Kiosk: 2/12/2018 - Dodgers Links - Some Odds and Ends

This is just a spring training photo to help you get prepared for the week. As you know, Dodger pitchers and catchers are scheduled to officially report to Camelback Ranch tomorrow. Above is a 1960 spring training photo featuring veteran Gil Hodges showing 23-year old youngster Frank Howard how to man the base, via an eBay listing. Per the descriptor:

Frank Howard, right, Los Angeles rookie outfielder, who the Dodgers will tryout at first base at their spring training camp, watches veteran first baseman Gil Hodges whom he will try to oust at the workout today. The 6 foot 7 inch Howard was named minor league player of 1959, a year in which he clammed 44 home runs, 27 with Victoria, 16 with Spokane and one as a pinch hitter with the Dodgers.

Below are more links to check out:

This Day in Dodgers History: In 2009 a $4.8MM civil lawsuit was filed against former Dodger infielder José Offerman by catcher John Nathans. As a member of the independent Long Island Ducks in 2007 he charged the pitcher with his bat in tow after being hit by a pitch. The pitcher suffered a broken finger and the catcher had a concussion (effectively ending his playing career) from the melee. Offerman is eventually found guilty and ordered to pay $940,000.
Happy Birthday, Sweetbread Bailey, Enzo Hernández, Don Stanhouse & Dennis Springer!
RIP, Wally Moon. This past Friday Dodger legend Wally Moon passed away in his home in Texas. He was 87 years old. Here are three links to articles related to his recent passing: Cary Osborne at Dodgers Insider (link here), Ken Gurnick at MLB.com (link here), and Nick Diunte at Baseball Happenings (link here).
The Fifth Annual Dodgers Blogger Softball Tournament is coming up on Sunday, April 15th. Go here for more information. The good folks at LFP.com are putting it together. It'll cost $36 per person and will take place at Big League Dreams West Covina. Registration is here.
ICYMI: Yu Darvish will be a Cub. Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA; "Yu Darvish signs reported 6-year, $126 million contract with Cubs."
ICYMI: Former Dodger reliever Sergio Romo is now a Ray, per Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors.
Per Earle Cornelius at Lancaster Online; "Elizabethtown College professor traces Jackie Robinson’s pride and faith to his mother."

“She tells Jackie that his color is a sign of God’s favor,” Long explained. “By the time he leaves Mallie’s house, Robinson had come to believe that God had created all people freely. God expected people to sacrifice and to work hard for their own liberation (and) that God would always be with those who sought freedom.”

It was a belief that stayed with him all his life. “For Robinson, faith was very active,” Long said.

This sounds like a great idea. Via ABC7.com; "Metrolink train service for Dodger games to be studied."

Directors of the regional service on Friday approved a motion to study special train service for Dodger games on the railroad's San Bernardino and Antelope Valley lines.

That would allow fans from eastern and northern parts of the Los Angeles region to avoid traffic on the State Route 60 freeway and Interstates 10 and 210, as well as parking hassles.

The trains would deliver fans to Union Station downtown and from there those with game tickets would ride free on express buses to and from the stadium.

Wha....? Per The Press Enterprise; "Esteban Loaiza, ex-MLB pitcher and husband of Jenni Rivera, suspected of possessing 44+ pounds of narcotics." He spent two seasons in Dodger Blue.
Bert Lehman at Sports Collectors Digest shares some preview pics from Topps upcoming 20187 Tribute set; including an early look at cards of both Sandy Koufax and Cody Bellinger seen below. Go here to check out more. This set is scheduled to be released next week.